Genesys says it will implement last, best and final offer to technical workers Sunday

GRAND BLANC TWP -- Genesys Regional Medical Center says it will not restart bargaining with the union representing technical workers here and will implement its last, best and final offer to the nearly 300 Teamsters on Sunday.

"We have declined Teamsters' leadership request to resume bargaining," Genesys Health System Vice President of Human Resources Tammy Saunaitis said in an e-mail statement to The Flint Journal.

"The Teamsters have given us no indication that negotiations would proceed any differently than the first seven months of bargaining where Teamsters leadership's focus was elsewhere and not on what was best for our technical employees and community."

Nina Bugbee, Teamsters Local 332 president, said today that the decision brings the hospital and employees closer to the issuance of a 10-day strike notice, which has not occurred yet.

"This is not a surprise to me because I don't believe they ever intended to bargain in good faith ... ," Bugbee said. "They are playing a game ... They are messing with this community."

Employee meetings are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. In Friday's voting, union members agreed to move forward with any and all lawful actions, including a strike after proper notice, she said.

"The members are going to be appalled (and have) indicated their willingness to strike," Bugbee said.